| Author | Message | ||
     Krt9r |
Gents, I disassembled the rear wheel yesterday to have the tyre replaced, and while inspecting the belt I found a lot of small cracks, with a couple of them near the edge. The rear sprocket also seems to be worn, as the chrome plating is coming off on numerous teeth... Now the bike is a '03 XB9R that clocks ~11k, so I can understand the belt starts to show its age, but is it normal that the sprocket is already damaged? How critical is it to reassemble "as is"? I have a ride planned at the week-end and I am not sure I will get the parts in time... Cheers, Olivier | ||
| Glitch |
Olivier, the rear sprocket is worn? Or is only just polished by the belt? I have over 55thousand miles on my 03XB9S and see no worrisome wear on the sprocket. The belt, I'd probably fit a new one on, as the 03 bikes have had some belt problems. The first year I had mine I went through three belts. I'm running the upgraded 03 belt now and have well over 25thousand miles on it. I'm getting the new upgraded belt and sprocket set in the very near future. Not because I'm worried, but because I came across a deal I can't pass up, that and the new belt is supposed to be a "lifetime" belt. | ||
| Krt9r |
Glitch to me it looks worn, as around half of the circumference it looks like chips of chrome have gone away (mainly on the bottom of the teeth, but on some also on the top), and running a knife in these area will leave a trace... That said the belt inner surface looks perfect, so I am not sure how critical it is. It took a few pics but forgot the USB cable this morning so can't download them (and won't be able to do so before a couple of days)...!  Sorry I have not been on here too much lately, what is this upgraded belt and sprocket kit? If I am to change both it would make sense to make sure I get it. | ||
| Glitch |
From 04 and on Buell change from Gates to Goodyear for belt manufacture. The newer belts have a different pitch and tooth count, so to get the new belt, you have to change both belt pulleys. Too bad about the pictures, it would have made a world of difference. | ||
| Deltablue |
Krt9r are you talking about the powder coating flaking off, or is it the internal part of the teeth that is coming apart. I've noticed that the powder coating doesn't hold up. The upgraded 03 belt seems to hold up rather well, so far. I'm looking at adding the spring loaded idler assembly form Trojan to mine, and sticking with the 03 as long as I can. There is a huge difference in the rear sprocket between 03 and 04, and I like the midrange in the 03. | ||
| Glitch |
There is a huge difference in the rear sprocket between 03 and 04, and I like the midrange in the 03. While you are right about the comparison in rear sprocket size, you need to realize the front sprocket size is proportionally larger than the 03 one as well. Meaning, there is no final drive difference, by going from 03 to 04 belt systems, you've not changed gear ratios. | ||
| Deltablue |
Perhaps midrange was not the correct term to use. The 03 belt was designed with an eye towards acceleration, and in that department it has a slight edge over later belts. The 04 was revamped with an eye towards top end, and has the edge in that department as well as durability. I'm very happy with what the 03 has provided, and I'd rather have the extra pull coming out of a corner, and I am will to replace my belt several times, and pay for it. It is arguably small difference, but hey thats why we all ride our own bikes. | ||
| Krt9r |
Cheers guys, I have found a another way to download the pics, so here they are: The cracks in the belt are obvious, the question is how critical are they? They are distributed all along the belt yet strangely I had never noticed them when inspecting the assembled belt...  Here a couple of pics of the pulley, in the first one I highlighted the allegedly damaged zones (Deltablue I don't think this is what you meant by "powder coating flaking off"?), you can see that the teeth on the far right look much better.   Hope this makes things clearer, any advice/opinion/experience welcome!  | ||
| Chainsaw |
IIRC: FSM says to scribe the sprockets with the tip of a knife. If the plating comes off: replace. If not, let it ride. Never seen a belt worn like that before! | ||
| Glitch |
Pulley looks fine from here. The belt doesn't. | ||
| Glitch |
There is no gear ratio change in the 03 & 04 bikes. There is no difference in acceleration between the two. none | ||
| Deltablue |
The 04 conversion maintains almost the the same 72/30 (2.400) ratio you have, but with a 27 tooth front and 65 tooth rear (2.407). And yeah that belt is done | ||
| Glitch |
Not to being an ass.  A point zero zero seven difference is something you're worried about making a difference in acceleration? Come on, there's no way you'd feel it, or even notice it. If you were a racer it'd be a moot point, cause then you'd be running a chain to get all kinds of gearings. Alright enough. You're OK in my book. C'mon down to Buelltoberfest next month, and I'll buy you a beer, we'll discus the finer points of corner acceleration, after we've ridden the twisties all day.  | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
Ahhhhhh...Wolf Pen Gap..  ...I love that corner, I rode back and forth so many times it was silly. Dragon was cool, wolf pen was GREAT! To have this as my back yard would be a blessing.... Funny story, Stopped up the road from there and was talking with a "Bike rider". You know The one's with pedals and no motor...He is telling me how crazy I am cuz he see's the bottles under the tail, and the way we ride... Do you believe that! He is telling ME I am crazy!..... I am like DUDE! You ride these same roads with a silly little cap on your head, in spandex shorts, on tires that could slice a tree in half at the speeds you run.... And I Am Crazy??????  I saw one of them dudes pass a harley on a corner while out there.....Priceless!!!!  | ||
| Cycleaddict |
would'nt the smaller '03 belt drive have less unsprung / rotating weight than the larger '04 + belt drive ? thus reinforcing deltablue's observation of quicker accelleration response ? | ||
| Krt9r |
Thanks for the input gents. I suppose the local dealer will have a ยด03 belt in stock at least... Someone has the part number of the upgraded belt? Chainsaw a knife will mark the pulley in the red areas of the pictures, so yes according to the manual it means change it. Now I think I still can ride a bit like that, but I wonder why it is worn after only 11k? If there is a problem I'd like to sort it before putting a new one on... | ||
| Glitch |
To have this as my back yard would be a blessing.... You would be, and I am!  thus reinforcing deltablue's observation of quicker accelleration response ? I've felt no difference in acceleration when comparing my bike to a CityX. If there is a problem I'd like to sort it before putting a new one on... Sort it out now. Peace of mind is priceless when out riding your bike, or anytime for that matter. | ||
| Jwhite601 |
That sprocket looks pretty normal to me. I'd run it if it were mine. I have one with about 3200 miles on it. Doesn't look a whole lot better than yours. | ||
| T9r |
The latest '03 version: G0500.02A8R $162.00 MSRP | ||
| Krt9r |
Cheers for the number, hopefully the dealer will have one. I'll probably take the pulley there too and see what they say... |
